Week 8-January 11-17 “All of life is a journey which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there.”
Differentiated Instruction-
Differentiated Instruction is simply "maximizing instruction in the ways in which students learn best" ... What a novel idea? Actually teaching students based on their needs and skills! Ha! Isn't this what we should always be doing as teachers? Differentiation is based on student diversity, abilities, weaknesses, and using a variety of teaching methods to reach all students. There is not a "one-size fits all" approach to teaching. Every child need individual instruction and attention. As teachers a lot of us teach to the middle level learners and do not provide challenges to the gifted or we leave the lower level students to fend for themselves. Differentiated instruction really helps those at all level reach their potential especially those struggling students with disabilities, reading and math difficulty, and those who are just struggling with basic concepts as well as the gifted students. This type of teaching focuses on the teacher reflecting on each student to create lessons around the challenges of each student. It allows and gives the students choices about how they learn and how they can express their own knowledge.
In the article, "Differentiating Instruction" by Scott Willis and Larry Moon, they believe that "all students should be given access to the same content ... not watered-down content". Teachers have to provide the content for all levels such and direct students to what level they are currently working. Provide varying texts, websites, projects, reading buddies, and field trips for all levels. Modification have to occur on an everyday basis. The curriculum needs to be based on broad concepts otherwise differentiating might become difficult. I think most teachers do their best to differentiate instruction and want each child to work to their potential. However with the teaching constraints we are under such as time, pacing guides, and large classes; it can become difficult to keep moving to cover all the material using this strategy. Lesson planning also becomes much more detailed which is a good thing, but again also very time-consuming. This article suggests that flexible grouping is a must! Groups need to be based on "readiness, interest, or learning profile". The following are suggestions for using differentiating in the classroom: stations where students rotate, giving each students agendas/tasks that need to be completed, orbital studies (independent projects), and choice boards allows for students to choose activities based on skill level. Again, these are awesome ideas but can take a lot of time to plan ... they might also work better at the elementary level b/c they see the same students all day long whereas middle school teachers can have up to 100 students in a day. Differentiating is an awesome way to teach and I think it would challenge teachers to reflect on their teaching and really strive to reach all students. As with everything it would require a lot of peer support, trainings, and in-classroom visits to help teachers become comfortable with this new strategy.
Challenges to differentiating:
-Time
-Classroom Management
-Grading
-Large classroom
-Lesson Planning/finding a variety of resources
-Funding
I can definitely see using this strategy in a language arts class where reading levels are very different for all students. It would be easy to find books at all levels that covers the same material. Students can choose different books depending on their reading level. When I taught social studies I loved using the "fishbowl" method to introduce difficult reading text. It allows everyone to speak without being interrupted and allows for great discussion. Assigning roles in group projects (investigator, reporter, editor, artist, etc) at the higher level also helps with differentiating b/c students can choose what they are comfortable with and can choose based on their talents. Content, product, and process is under the teacher control and can be adjusted to each students needs. Just presenting materials in differing ways can help with the "ah ha" moment for students. This podcast can help with some ideas for differentiating instruction. PodCast
Student Needs Assessment Reflection: 1. What did you expect to find that you did not?
69% Do you use computers at home ... I thought this would be much less b/c of our free and reduced lunch percentage (73%). However, I don't think a lot of our students use their computers for learning purposes! I also have found out that students have computers at home, but are not allowed to get on them b/c of parent restrictions. 2. What did you find that you expected?
Our weaknesses our in word processing, creating presentations, and basics of internet help. I definitely see these in my classroom as MAJOR weaknesses. Usually, by the sixth grade most students can type and know the basics of word processing. These kids have very little basic skills, which need to be taught at an early grade level. The middle age should be working on more advanced skills like: website creation, podcasts, movie making. 3. Profession Development? ... I think we need to survey the teachers to adequately answer this question. The student results show that we need pd in 21st century teaching strategies, one-on-one training in using the equipment we already have (whole school training will not work!), and training on the basics for teachers: word, powerpoint, researching skills, email, blogging ... I know this sounds silly, but if the teachers were more comfortable using these programs they may allow the students to create more projects. We need to model how technology can be used in the classrooms ... show them it engages the students and curriculum is covered. I also think the teachers NEED time to try the equipment ... frustration comes when they use it and it doesn't work, which makes for not wanting to use it again. I also think we have a lot of equipment that goes unused. ... we need to work on using the equipment we have before purchasing new. 4. Individual Ideas for School Action Plan? In the school action we definitely need to address being able to use WEB 2.O tools. I also believe strongly in all teachers having their own website (school center). This allows for homework posting daily, constant communication with parents, and it offers blogging, website links, etc. ... Teachers need to have the students create projects using technology tools. I can not do all the teaching alone! I can provide the basics, but if the teachers don't allow their students to use their computer skills we are going backwards. The majority of students are only using the computer at school a few times a month, we need this to be a few times a week! .... Having an elementary computer class would also help, but not sure if it can be included in the action plan. My action plan would be to make it mandatory that ALL students take a computer class every year. We have a lot of students that never take a computer class throughout all of middle school. 5.Team Ideas for School Action Plan? As a team we need to set-up times to inidividually work with teachers. We should be demonstrating new tools and what we are doing in the classroom at monthly meetings. Teachers need to "see" other teachers using the technology to jumpstart the motivation. I also think teachers need to visit other classrooms to "see" what is going on in other classrooms. I rarely see this happening. That is where I have learned the most throughout my teaching career. At my last school we were required to visit for 10 minutes 3 different classrooms a quarter. We also should each choose a month and send out our favorite tech resources through email. Grant Video- This video depicts my vision/philosophy for my classroom and school district. Enjoy!
“All of life is a journey which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there.”
Differentiated Instruction-
Differentiated Instruction is simply "maximizing instruction in the ways in which students learn best" ... What a novel idea? Actually teaching students based on their needs and skills! Ha! Isn't this what we should always be doing as teachers? Differentiation is based on student diversity, abilities, weaknesses, and using a variety of teaching methods to reach all students. There is not a "one-size fits all" approach to teaching. Every child need individual instruction and attention. As teachers a lot of us teach to the middle level learners and do not provide challenges to the gifted or we leave the lower level students to fend for themselves. Differentiated instruction really helps those at all level reach their potential especially those struggling students with disabilities, reading and math difficulty, and those who are just struggling with basic concepts as well as the gifted students. This type of teaching focuses on the teacher reflecting on each student to create lessons around the challenges of each student. It allows and gives the students choices about how they learn and how they can express their own knowledge.
In the article, "Differentiating Instruction" by Scott Willis and Larry Moon, they believe that "all students should be given access to the same content ... not watered-down content". Teachers have to provide the content for all levels such and direct students to what level they are currently working. Provide varying texts, websites, projects, reading buddies, and field trips for all levels. Modification have to occur on an everyday basis. The curriculum needs to be based on broad concepts otherwise differentiating might become difficult. I think most teachers do their best to differentiate instruction and want each child to work to their potential. However with the teaching constraints we are under such as time, pacing guides, and large classes; it can become difficult to keep moving to cover all the material using this strategy. Lesson planning also becomes much more detailed which is a good thing, but again also very time-consuming. This article suggests that flexible grouping is a must! Groups need to be based on "readiness, interest, or learning profile". The following are suggestions for using differentiating in the classroom: stations where students rotate, giving each students agendas/tasks that need to be completed, orbital studies (independent projects), and choice boards allows for students to choose activities based on skill level. Again, these are awesome ideas but can take a lot of time to plan ... they might also work better at the elementary level b/c they see the same students all day long whereas middle school teachers can have up to 100 students in a day. Differentiating is an awesome way to teach and I think it would challenge teachers to reflect on their teaching and really strive to reach all students. As with everything it would require a lot of peer support, trainings, and in-classroom visits to help teachers become comfortable with this new strategy.
Challenges to differentiating:
-Time
-Classroom Management
-Grading
-Large classroom
-Lesson Planning/finding a variety of resources
-Funding
I can definitely see using this strategy in a language arts class where reading levels are very different for all students. It would be easy to find books at all levels that covers the same material. Students can choose different books depending on their reading level. When I taught social studies I loved using the "fishbowl" method to introduce difficult reading text. It allows everyone to speak without being interrupted and allows for great discussion. Assigning roles in group projects (investigator, reporter, editor, artist, etc) at the higher level also helps with differentiating b/c students can choose what they are comfortable with and can choose based on their talents. Content, product, and process is under the teacher control and can be adjusted to each students needs. Just presenting materials in differing ways can help with the "ah ha" moment for students. This podcast can help with some ideas for differentiating instruction.
PodCast
Student Needs Assessment Reflection:
1. What did you expect to find that you did not?
69% Do you use computers at home ... I thought this would be much less b/c of our free and reduced lunch percentage (73%). However, I don't think a lot of our students use their computers for learning purposes! I also have found out that students have computers at home, but are not allowed to get on them b/c of parent restrictions.
2. What did you find that you expected?
Our weaknesses our in word processing, creating presentations, and basics of internet help. I definitely see these in my classroom as MAJOR weaknesses. Usually, by the sixth grade most students can type and know the basics of word processing. These kids have very little basic skills, which need to be taught at an early grade level. The middle age should be working on more advanced skills like: website creation, podcasts, movie making.
3. Profession Development? ... I think we need to survey the teachers to adequately answer this question. The student results show that we need pd in 21st century teaching strategies, one-on-one training in using the equipment we already have (whole school training will not work!), and training on the basics for teachers: word, powerpoint, researching skills, email, blogging ... I know this sounds silly, but if the teachers were more comfortable using these programs they may allow the students to create more projects. We need to model how technology can be used in the classrooms ... show them it engages the students and curriculum is covered. I also think the teachers NEED time to try the equipment ... frustration comes when they use it and it doesn't work, which makes for not wanting to use it again. I also think we have a lot of equipment that goes unused. ... we need to work on using the equipment we have before purchasing new.
4. Individual Ideas for School Action Plan? In the school action we definitely need to address being able to use WEB 2.O tools. I also believe strongly in all teachers having their own website (school center). This allows for homework posting daily, constant communication with parents, and it offers blogging, website links, etc. ... Teachers need to have the students create projects using technology tools. I can not do all the teaching alone! I can provide the basics, but if the teachers don't allow their students to use their computer skills we are going backwards. The majority of students are only using the computer at school a few times a month, we need this to be a few times a week! .... Having an elementary computer class would also help, but not sure if it can be included in the action plan. My action plan would be to make it mandatory that ALL students take a computer class every year. We have a lot of students that never take a computer class throughout all of middle school.
5.Team Ideas for School Action Plan? As a team we need to set-up times to inidividually work with teachers. We should be demonstrating new tools and what we are doing in the classroom at monthly meetings. Teachers need to "see" other teachers using the technology to jumpstart the motivation. I also think teachers need to visit other classrooms to "see" what is going on in other classrooms. I rarely see this happening. That is where I have learned the most throughout my teaching career. At my last school we were required to visit for 10 minutes 3 different classrooms a quarter. We also should each choose a month and send out our favorite tech resources through email.
Grant Video- This video depicts my vision/philosophy for my classroom and school district. Enjoy!